Apparatus for catching and delivering mail-bags and the like.



. B: L.- TOQUET. APPARATUS FOR GATOHING AND DELIVERING MAI I BAGS AND- THE LIKE.

APPLIUATIOH FILED MAR. 14, 1908.

Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

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UNITED "STATES Parana en ine, I]

BENJAMIN LOUIS TOQUET, OF WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT,

APPARATUS FOR CATCHING- AND DELIVERING MAIL-BAGS AND THE LIKE.

" Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan 26, 1909.

Original application filed February 10, 1908, Serial No. 115,153- Divided. and this application filed March 1c, 1908. a Serial No. 421,112.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN LoUIs TOQUET, a citizen of-the United States of America, residing at IVestport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Catching and Delivering Mail-Bags and the Like, of which the following is aspecific'ation, being a divisional application founded upon an application filed by me on February 10, 1908, and having the Serial No. 115,158.

My invention relates to apparatus for catching and delivering mail bags and the like and consists in forth hereinafter.

The particular object of my invention, particularly with relation to mail bag catchers, is to provide in connection with a freely swinging arm, a suitable catching device adapted to be automatically actuated by the impact of the bag. 7

In the accompanying drawing in which an apparatus embodying my invention is shown, Figure 1 is a plan view of an arm provided with my device; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that my improved device comprises a swinging arm 4 mounted on a convenient support, for instance the column 1, and provided at its outer end with a receiving hook 10'and a pivoted finger piece 11, mounted on the arm 4 and provided with holding fingers 12 and 13 and an actuating finger 1 1. The impingement of the bag against the finger 14 swings the finger 13 toward the hook, against which it holds the bag during the revolution of the arm around the column.

It will be noted from the drawing that the.

finger piece 11 is subjected to the action of a spring 15 through the rod 16 pivoted to the lug 17, so that when the arm is set to receive a bag, the retaining finger 13 is held open by the action of the spring which presses the finger 12 with its stop 18 against the back of abutment 20 on the rod. In connection the improvements set 'asi'ngle track road, the hook may be made to swivel in the arm and thus present its opening in either direction.

While the apparatus which I have described is my present preferred construction and is especially adapted for receiving and delivering mail bags, various modifications maybe devised by which the principles involved are applied without departing from the scope of my present invention, and I do not limit myself to the particulars shown and described.

. I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the character described, having a rotatable catching arm, and a catching device thereon comprising a receiv ing hook, a retaining finger device pivoted on said arm, s ring means to hold saiddevice against t e bag after it has been delivered and means for actuating said device by the impact of the bag on its delivery.

2. A device of the character described, having a catching arm ada ted to be rotated by the impact of the ag on its delivery, and a catching device on said arm comprising a receiving hook, a retaining finger device pivoted on said arm, spring means to hold said device against the bag after it has been delivered and means for actuating said catching device by the impact of the bag on its delivery.

3. A device of the character described, having a catching arm adapted to be rotated by the impact of the bag on its delivery, and a catchin device on said-arm comprising a receiving ook adapted to present its openmg in opposite directions, a retaining finger device pivoted on saidarm, sprlng means to i hold said device against the bag after it has been delivered and means for actuating said catching device by the impact of the bag on its delivery.

1. A device of the character described, having a catching arm adapted to be rotated by the impact of the bag on its delivery, and a catching device on said arm comprising a receiving hook, a retaining finger pivoted on said arm, spring means to hold said finger against the bag after its delivery and an actuating finger operatively connected to said retaining finger and adapted to be struck by the bag on its delivery whereby the retaining finger is brought into position to retain said bag in the hook, substantially as described.

5. A device of the character described, having a catching arm adapted to be rotated by the impact of the bag on its delivery, and a catching device on said arm comprising a receiving hook, a retaining finger device pivoted on said arm, a spring for holding said finger against the bag after it has been delivered, one end of said spring being operatively connected with said finger and the other end being supported by an abutment swiveled on said catching arm, together with means for actuating said catching device by the impact of the bag on its delivery.

6. A device of the character described, having a catching arm adapted to be rotated by the impact of the bag on its delivery, and a catching device on said arm comprising a receiving hook adapted to present its open ing in opposite directions, a retaining finger device pivoted on said arm and adapted to cooperate with said hook in whichever direction its opening is presented, spring means to hold said device against the bag after it has been delivered and means for actuating said catching device by the impact of the bag on its delivery.

7. A device of the character described, having a catching arm adapted to be rotated by the impact of the bag on its delivery, and a catching device on said arm comprising a receiving hook adapted to present its opening in opposite directions, a retaining finger device pivoted on said arm and having a plurality of retaining fingers to cooperate with said hook in which ever direction its opening is presented, spring means to hold said device against the bag after it has been delivered, and an actuating finger interposed between said catching fingers and adapted to be struck by the bag on its delivery, whereby a retaining finger is brought into position to retain said bag in the hook, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN LOUIS TOQUEI.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM Anna, L. H. Gno'rn. 

